This week, the Mexican Olympic Committee (COM) elected to close its major aquatic facilities at the Mexican Olympic Sports Center (Centro Deportivo Olímpico Mexicano, CDOM) in Mexico City.
According to the COM press release, the Mexican Olympic Committee is facing a financial crisis after being deprived of the government’s yearly maintenance subsidy which usually pays to operate the pool and diving well. The government pulled its funding because the Mexican national swimming, synchro, water polo, and diving teams have all ceased practice in the pools due to the Mexican Swimming Federation’s FINA suspension.
However, the national teams aren’t the only aquatic teams that call the CDOM their home. The youth athletic groups that practice there will now have to disband or find a new facility.
Roughly translated from the press release: “The COM regrets taking this decision and trusts the efforts of COM president Carlos Padilla Becerra to seek resources via sponsors and private initiatives to support the development of new talent.”
This is the latest in a series of developments on the story of the Mexico’s FINA suspension. In short, the Mexican Swimming Federation was suspended for a failure to pay the $5 million fine associated with their withdrawal from hosting the 2017 World Championships. Just last week, the country canceled its Olympic Trials, and over the last month, many Mexican swimmers have been competing at international meets (including the Orlando Grand Prix and the Open Water World Cup) under FINA’s banner instead of their home flag.